Rotating Shoe Storage Appratus

ABSTRACT

A rotating shoe rack, comprising a vertical member atop a base, wherein the vertical member further comprises several disk-shaped platforms that serve as supports for pairs of shoes. The disk-shaped platforms comprise dividers to create compartments between the platforms. The vertical member rotates relative to the base to allow a user to access different compartments. Rotational motion is achieved by turning a handle disposed at the top of the vertical member. The apparatus further comprises casters on the base, so that in addition to rotational motion of the vertical member, horizontal motion across a planar surface can be achieved by the apparatus.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/602,960, filed on Nov. 22, 2006

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL

Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND

The present invention is directed to a shoe rack; more specifically to a shoe rack with compartments to shoes; more specifically to a tower shaped multi-level compartmentalized shoe rack; and still more specifically to a multi-level compartmentalized shoe rack tower that rotates on its axis.

SUMMARY

The present invention comprises a rotating shoe rack apparatus including a vertical support member connected to a base, with evenly spaced disk-shaped support members designed to act as shelves that support the shoes of a user. A series of panels are disposed between the disk-shaped members to create compartments for shoes. The panels can be removed to enlarge or reduce the size of the compartments. The compartments are bounded by the top and bottom of two disk-shaped members and two dividers. Two handles at the top of the vertical member rotate the apparatus about its axis. In a preferred embodiment, a nut disposed under the base attaches the vertical support member and allows it to turn. The base itself further comprises casters to allow the entire apparatus to move across a horizontal surface.

FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the rotating shoe rack of the apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a top view showing the base of the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the base of the apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view showing the base of the apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the vertical member of the apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a disk-shaped member of the apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a divider of the apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the apparatus in a hanging configuration

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention

DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIG. 1, the rotating shoe rack apparatus 1 in accordance with the present invention includes a vertical support member 2 connected to a base 6, and upon which are evenly spaced disk-shaped support members 4 that support the shoes of a user. Additionally, a series of panels 8 are disposed between the disk-shaped members 4 to create a series of compartments bounded by the top and bottom of a disk-shaped member 4 and two dividers 8. A handle 10, or in an alternate embodiment, two handles, are disposed at the top of the vertical member 2 for rotating the vertical member 2 about its axis below a finial 12 that caps the vertical member 2.

In one preferred embodiment, a nut 14 is disposed under the base 6 to attach the vertical support member 2 and hold it in position. Additionally, the base 6 further comprises casters 16 that allow the entire apparatus 1 to move across a horizontal surface.

Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a top, side and bottom view of the base of the apparatus are shown. The base 4 comprises a circular planar member on which rests a rotating plate 18. A means, including ball bearings are sandwiched between the base 4 and the rotating plate 18 to facilitate movement. In the center of the base 4 and rotating plate 18, a hole 20 is disposed to accommodate the vertical member of the apparatus. A nut 14 is disposed centrally on the bottom side of the base 4 to fasten the vertical member, and a set of four casters are spaced evenly about the periphery of the base 4 to balance the apparatus and allow it to travel on a horizontal surface.

Referring to FIG. 5, the vertical member 2 of the apparatus is shown to include a knob or finial 12 for both decorative and movement purposes. Below to the finial 12, a handle 10 is disposed perpendicular to the vertical member 2 to provide an easy means of rotating the apparatus. Adjacent to, including below, the handle 10, an accessory box 26 is disposed on the vertical member 2 for storage of small items. Additionally, covers 28 are disposed at intervals along the vertical member 2, wherein the spaces between the covers 28 are designed to accommodate the disk-shaped members, thereby giving a uniform appearance to the compartments.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a disk-shaped member and a divider are shown. Each disk-shaped member is equipped with a series of slots 30 oriented in a radial configuration from the center of the disk-shaped member. The slots 30 serve as an anchoring means for the dividers 8 of the device. The dividers are comprised of generally square or rectangular planar members, with at least one tab 32 disposed on an edge of the divider 8. The tab 32 is designed to be inserted into the slots 30 of the disk-shaped members, so that a compartment is created, in which shoes may be disposed.

Referring to FIG. 8, an alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown wherein the apparatus is designed to hang in position. In this manner the finial has been replaced with a hanging means 40 that can either attach to a surface, such as a ceiling, or be hung from another device, such as a closet rail as shown. In this embodiment, the base of the device has been removed, except for a means of preventing the disk-shaped members from falling.

Referring to FIG. 9, a further alternative embodiment is shown, wherein the turning means of the shoe rack comprises a system designed to present a user's shoes on support members, that are displayed in a vertical orientation. The rack comprises a box member 50 with an open side. Disposed within the box member 50 is a turning mechanism 52, on which are disposed support members 54. The support members hold shoe storage boxes 56 which are attached to the support members in a manner that permits them to retain their hanging orientation as the support members move in a vertically clockwise or counter-clockwise manner.

In another alternative embodiment, the shoes are presented in a hanging arrangement. In the embodiment of the invention with the disk-shaped members, A hanging means is disposed under each of the disk-shaped members, except the bottom disk-shaped member, and a user's shoes are disposed on the hanging members. In this embodiment, the dividers normally used to create compartments in the device are omitted. 

1. An improved rotating shoe storage apparatus comprising; a. a vertical support member attached to a base in a manner that permits the vertical support member to rotate relative to the base; b. a plurality of disk-shaped support members evenly spaced along the support member; c. a means of dividing the disk-shaped support members into compartments; d. a means of rotating the vertical support member about its axis, so that as the member is rotated, the disk-shaped members rotate in tandem, exposing an open side of the compartments, wherein the open side of the compartments is disposed opposite the side of the compartments adjacent to the vertical member; e. a hanging means, including a series of hooks disposed under the disk-shaped members, wherein the hanging means is capable of holding pairs of shoes; and f. a motor operable by a user that causes the apparatus to turn, to access shoes on different sides of the apparatus.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one elongated handle with a gripping means is disposed at the top of the apparatus to turn the apparatus about the axis of the vertical support member.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a finial is disposed at the top of the vertical member.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base attached to the vertical member comprises a means of moving the entire apparatus horizontally across a surface, including casters.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base is secured to the vertical member with a means, including a nut, which allows the vertical member to be rotated relative to the base.
 6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein an accessory box is disposed at the top of the apparatus adjacent to, including incorporated into the vertical member and handle means.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the disk-shaped support members are held in place by a holding means adjacent to the vertical member.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the disk-shaped support members are held in place by a holding means comprising a bracket attached to the side of the vertical member and underside of a disk-shaped support member.
 9. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the brackets are disposed inside two surfaces of the disk-shaped members.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dividers extend from the top side of one disk-shaped support member, to the bottom side of the next adjacent disk-shaped support member disposed directly above it.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a series of covers are disposed over the surface of the vertical member, wherein the spaces created by the covers are occupied by the disk-shaped members.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the disk-shaped members have a means disposed on their surface for conforming to the shape of a shoe.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dividing means can be removed and reinserted to make the compartments larger or smaller.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a transparent closing means is disposed at the opening side of one or more compartments, so that the compartments can be closed.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cover that covers the apparatus.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a hanging means that allows the apparatus to be supported from above.
 17. An improved shoe storage apparatus comprising; a. a cuboidal rack with at least two side panels and at least one open side; b. a rotating means disposed in the rack anchored to the insides of the two side panels; c. at least one support member disposed on the rotating means, so that the support member moves in a clock-wise or counter-clockwise motion relative to the side panels, wherein the support members are alternately disposed adjacent to or away from the open side; and d. at least one closeable storage member attached to the support member in a manner that permits the storage member to retain its orientation as the support member rotates.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the rotating means is oriented so that multiple storage members are visible at once, and wherein the storage members are displayed at an angle.
 19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the storage members are translucent to permit a user to see into the storage members when they are closed.
 20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the rotating means can be motorized. 